Tragic lost of one of my students...

Isaac and Lydia @ STARS conference, Kumasi 2011

In the wee morning of Valentine's Day Lydia, one of the senior high school student that was selected last year to participate in a student leadership conference (STARS), called me to inform me that Isaac, the boy that was also selected, has passed away. For several minutes, I could not comprehend what she was trying to tell me. Granted it was 4 am in the morning, but Isaac dead? I didn't want to believe it. It came as a shock to everyone. He was only 17 years old.

Isaac was one of the sweetest boys I had ever met. Smart, friendly, loyal, obedient, social, hard working. He was my friend and I was also his mentor. I would lend him books to read and in return he would bring me huge pans of water on his head. I was going to each him how to type. We went to Kumasi together with Lydia so that he could learn how to be role model in the community. And he was. I am saddened at the sudden lost of a promising kid and a friend.

It has been extremely discouraging that I have lost one of my best students. He embodied characteristics that all young people should have to brighten their's and their country's future. It is also upsetting that he probably died from a preventable or treatable disease, perhaps meningitis. That if this country had better infrastructure, he would still be alive. That however hard we try to educate and help each other, things like this are inevitable in the developing world.

You will not be forgotten Isaac.